More Active Lifestyle Could Cut Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease

Higher levels of physical activity for men, lower levels of sitting time for women tied to lower risk

FRIDAY, Oct. 5 (HealthDay News) -- More physical activity and less time sitting are associated with a reduced risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), independent of other risk factors, according to research published in the October issue of the American Journal of Kidney Disease.

To examine the association between CKD and lifestyle factors such as physical activity and sitting time, Nilesh Bharakhada, M.B.Ch.B., from the University Hospitals of Leicester National Health Service Trust in the United Kingdom, and colleagues utilized the International Physical Activity Questionnaire as part of a diabetes screening program for 6,379 patients (52 percent women) seen in 20 family practices.

The researchers found that, after controlling for physical activity, body mass index, and other potential confounding variables, lower levels of sitting time were associated with lower risk of CKD (odds ratio, 0.74 for lowest versus highest tertile). Compared with men, women who spent more time sitting trended toward a significantly higher risk of CKD. There was a lower risk of CKD associated with participating in at least the minimum recommended levels of physical activity, with men exhibiting a lower risk of CKD with high levels of physical activity compared to women.

"If our findings are replicated in other studies, they could be important considerations in the design of lifestyle recommendations, public health policy, and interventions for changing health behavior that are directed toward the prevention of CKD," the authors write.